Common Mistakes to Avoid in the Casino

You can have a lot of fun playing in a casino without really
worrying too much about what you're doing. Most of the games are
fairly straightforward, so they're easy to learn, and you don't
have to think about strategy or the optimal way to play if you
don't want to. Providing you're gambling with money you can
afford to lose, you can just focus on enjoying yourself and
hoping to get lucky.

With that being said, there are a few mistakes that you
should try to avoid if you can. On this page, we've listed the
most common casino mistakes made by beginners. Where relevant,
we've also provided some advice on how to avoid making them.

If you follow this advice, and avoid all of these mistakes,
you may improve your chances of winning a little. That's no bad
thing, even if you're just playing for fun. You'll also have a
better overall experience, and should be able to enjoy playing
without getting into any difficulty.

Chasing Losses

Chasing losses is easily one of the most common mistakes made
by casino players. It's also one of the most dangerous. And it's
not just limited to beginners either, as even experienced
players are tempted to chase their losses on occasion. It's very
likely that you'll also be tempted at some point, but this is a
temptation that you simply have to resist.

Chasing losses is NEVER a good idea.

There are quite simply no circumstances in which chasing
losses is an advisable approach. It doesn't matter how bad your
luck has been, or how long your losing streak has been, there is
no such thing as being "due to win". This is the excuse players
often use to justify increasing their stakes in the hope that
their luck will turn around and they'll recover some of the
money lost, but it's a bad one. Most bad runs do come to an end
eventually, but there is never any way of knowing when that will
happen.

How to Avoid This Mistake

This is really a simple matter of discipline, and just making
sure that you DON'T increase your stakes when things are going
badly. In fact, it's a better option to decrease your stakes.
This way you can hopefully ride out a run of poor luck without
losing too much money. You're then less likely to get frustrated
and feel the need to chase your losses.

Alternatively, you can just stop. There's nothing wrong with
saving some money for another time.

Blaming The Dealers

You will lose money in the casino sometimes. Probably more
often that you win in all likelihood. The odds are against you,
so you should never expect to win. And you most certainly should
not take it out on the dealers when you don't.

Casino dealers can't influence whether you
win or lose. Don't blame them if you have some bad luck.

Casino dealers are just doing their job, and they shouldn't
have to put up with abuse from players who can't handle losing.
Sadly, many players are quick to blame the dealers when things
aren't going their way. This is not only unfair on the dealers
but it can also make for an unpleasant atmosphere for other
players at the table.

So please be sure to avoid this mistake, regardless of how
much you lose. It's not only courteous to remain polite, it's
usually a requirement in most casinos. You might find yourself
getting ejected from a venue if you're unnecessarily rude.

How to Avoid this Mistake

Firstly, always remember that dealers can't control the
outcome of games in the casino. Many of them actually prefer it
when players win, as they know they're likely to get better
tips. Even if they don't care one way or another, it's still not
their fault when you lose.

Secondly, just remember your manners. Speak to the dealers
how you would like to be spoken to if you were doing their job.
If you feel like you're losing your temper, take a break or try
a different table.

Believing in Systems

There is no magical system that can guarantee winning money
in a casino. There are certain things that can be done to
influence your chances of winning, such as using the correct
strategies, but there is NOTHING that will ensure consistent
profits. The house edge is an advantage that simply cannot be
overcome.

Many players refuse to accept this though, and waste their
time trying to develop systems that will enable them to beat the
casino. There's nothing wrong with looking for ways to improve
your chances of winning of course, but please don't believe that
a system can eliminate the risk from playing casino games.
Because there will always be a risk of losing.

How to Avoid this Mistake

You can
start by reading our article on the perils of betting
systems. This explains why they are a bad idea. Also, please
make sure that you never pay for a betting system. Search the
internet and you'll find plenty of websites offering systems for
sale, but rest assured that all these systems are nothing short
of scams. Don't fall for their claims, and don't waste your
money.

Getting Greedy

This is almost as big of a mistake as chasing losses. It's
definitely one to avoid too, as getting greedy in the casino
rarely works out well. It typically leads to players who have
been lucky enough to win giving all their winnings back. Often,
they give back a lot more too.

It's understandable that players on a winning streak feel
like nothing can go wrong, and we fully understand how tempting
it can be to keep betting bigger and bigger amounts in order to
maximize a run of good luck. The problem, though, is that all
winning streaks come to an end. Players often have a hard time
realizing that when caught up in the moment, and keep betting
higher stakes than normal as a result. Before they know it, all
the money they won has gone straight back to the house.

How to Avoid This Mistake

There's nothing wrong with increasing your stakes a little
when running good in a casino. Just don't go crazy, because the
run won't last forever. As soon as you stop winning, drop your
stakes back down again.

It's also a good idea to "bank" some winnings when things are
going well. Put some chips in your pocket (or make a withdrawal
if playing online), and promise not to touch them whatever
happens. This way you'll at least have something to show for
your good luck, even if you end up losing some of your winnings
back.

Drinking Too Much

The last thing you want to do when gambling for real money is
exercise poor judgement. This is exactly what you will do if you
have too much to drink. Alcohol is readily available in most
casinos, and some will actively encourage players to indulge,
and there's nothing wrong with enjoying a few drinks. Having too
many is unlikely to end well though.

Casino waitresses provide a valuable service,
but try not to take TOO much advantage of this service.

People rarely make good decisions when they are drunk, and
making good decisions is very important in the casino. There's
money at stake, and you really don't want to do anything that
increases the chances of losing it. You most definitely don't
want to risk spending more than you should, and that can be very
easy to do after too many drinks. People don't tend to think too
much about potential consequences after drinking heavily.

How to Avoid This Mistake

This again comes down to discipline really. Set yourself some
limits for how much you're going to drink, and stick to them.
Try having non-alcoholic drinks every so often too. And if you
feel yourself getting drunk, then stop drinking. Or stop playing
and keep drinking, whichever you prefer. Don't keep drinking and
playing though. This advice applies when playing online at home
as well.

Missing Out On Extra Value

Most casinos, live and online, will reward players in some
way for their gaming activity. There is a lot of extra value to
be had because of this, and it's a mistake to miss out on it.

In a live casino you will typically be invited to apply for a
player card, or comp card, which is a very simple process that
doesn't take long at all. At some venues you'll automatically be
given one when you first visit. Once you have this card, it will
be used to record your activity when you sit down at the tables
or gaming machines. You'll earn points based on this activity,
and those points can then be exchanged for various comps. These
include drinks, food, accommodation, shows, and even free chips.

With online casinos, you also earn comp points based on
gaming activity. These are usually exchangeable for cash added
straight into your account. There are also lots of bonuses you
can claim. For example, most online casinos offer all new
customers some extra chips based on the size of their first
deposit.

How to Avoid This Mistake

For online play, you should read our article which explains
all about the different types of casino bonuses and how they
work. For live play, firstly make sure that you get a player
card or comp card for every venue you visit. Then remember to
present it every time you play.

Using the Wrong Online Casinos

There are a lot of online casinos on the internet. This means
plenty of choice for online players, which is a good thing of
course. Not all of these online casinos are of the same standard
though, which is not such a good thing. Some are excellent, some
are awful, and the majority are somewhere in between. For the
best possible experience, you obviously want to sign up with the
excellent ones.

This means making some effort when it comes to choosing where
to play, and a common mistake made by online players is not
making this effort. Many of them just sign up at any random
casino, without comparing the options available to them. This is
not a good approach.

How to Avoid This Mistake

Avoiding this mistake is easy if you simply put some thought
into which online casinos you use, and are careful to stick to
reputable and trustworthy operations.
Our advice on choosing
where to play will help you with this, or you can simply pick a
casino from our recommended list.